Blog 10-Fish out of Water

The beginning of April I took my sister to a Taylor Swift concert. Taylor Swift is a country singing icon for most young girls. I felt extremely out of my element because I don't listen to country music at all.

Everyone was dressed in their country attire. The arena was full of cowboy hats, and boots. I was dressed in sneakers and blue jeans. My sister really wanted to go to this concert so I took her for her birthday.

The entire arena had every seat filled. We arrived early because my sister warned me that Taylor fans were extremely dedicated. The line to enter was about a half-mile long. People were singing the lyrics to Taylor's songs while waiting anxiously to make way through the doors. Even though I didn't know the words I still appreciated the energy and excitement that the fans had.

Echoes of screams and chants as the lights go out, it was time for the concert to begin. Kellie Pickler was one of the opening acts of the night. I had never heard her music before. Surprisingly I noticed myself tapping my feet to the tunes. I really respected Kellie Pickler performing with a broken ankle. Her performance was outstanding, aside from being carried on and off stage.

Finally the moment everyone in the HP Pavilion was waiting for has come. The curtains were drawn as T-Swift and her band made there first appearance of the night. The overbearing noise was louder than any Sharks game I've been to. After Taylor's performance of a song called, "You Belong With Me," the fans gave a five minute standing ovation. The love everyone was giving to Taylor was greatly appreciated as Taylor began to tear up. Her next song, she came out dressed in a Sharks jersey, which was a big hit with the fans especially me.

As the night went on I began to enjoy country music, and spending time with my sister. I definitely have a different outlook on country music and have downloaded a couple songs to my ipod.

word #10

1. Lunged

2. Jared lunged forward, away from me.

The Host by Stephenie Meyer

3. Noun. A sudden attacking forward movement.

4. The lion lunged forward at the fence.

targeting audiences

Brandon Castillo

Targeting Audiences

This ad is about taking the pledge to not use a cell phone while operating a vehicle. The ads intended target audience is definitely for everyday drivers. It’s safe to say that the age group range the ad targets is from about 16 to 70 years of age. People with businesses tend to use their phones a lot while on the road. High school students also could get use of this ad as well, for being new drivers on the streets. Another demographic this ad could target is a person and their income. Cell phone users need to make decent money to afford a cell phone. Let alone be carefree enough with the consequences of getting a big fine from the police. The target audiences lifestyles are most likely busy bodied, multi-taskers, and people that think they are above the law. People who do not value their safety or others around them could take a look at this ad.

The key message of this advertisement is for drivers to pledge today to not use a cell phone while driving. The ad is information rich by telling the audience that, “ driving while using a cell phone is equal to driving while drunk. For texting, it’s the same as being two times the legal limit.” The ad also has a space for the reader to sign and pledge that they will make their car a No Phone Zone. The way the ad is perceived to look like some sort of legal document makes readers feel more binding to obey the law. At the end of the ad there is a website with Oprah’s name, to learn more about taking the pledge. Oprah is a very well known person, and liked by many. The use of her name could possibly help the targeted audience follow in her beliefs to this ad.

word #9

1. Tribunal

2. It was a small tribunal this time, not like the trial for Kyle's life.

The Host by Stephenie Meyer

3. Noun. A law court. A body appointed to make a judgement or carry out a an inquiry.

4. There was a famous tribunal years ago for the O.J. trial.

Blog 8 – IMHO (In My Humble Opinion) #1

For many years couples have been adopting children all over the world whether the adoption is to an average couple or a celebrity couple, like Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. The definition of adoption is to legally raise another's child. The article I chose was about a seven year old boy whose U.S. family sent him back to Russia. I believe that the adoptive mother had no right in sending her young boy back the way she did.

The boy was sent on a one-way flight back to Moscow by his adopted mother of Tennessee. The new mothers reason for sending the boy back was that he had issues and the family feared for their safety. Torrey Hanson, the mother, was in the wrong because she took on the responsibility of adopting the child, and raising him as her own. A child is not like some sort of animal that you can just return or discard as you please. This poor boy is a human being, and was under Hansons care.

Sending a young child on an airplane flight to another country was extremely irresponsible of the mother. The child could have gotten lost, or worse, kidnapped. Parents do not just get rid of children on account of bad behavior. Part of parenting is disciplining your child as needed. Torrey Hansen in my opinion tried to take the easy way out by discarding her adopted son, and shipping him off to Moscow. It was an easy fix, yet the wrong choice.

The mothers argument for returning the child was written in a letter, which was attached to the boy saying that, "this child is mentally unstable. He is violent and has severe psychopathic issues." Most children who are orphans have dealt with some severe issue in their own lives, which in turn may lead them to having some affect.

Adoptive parents should realize that it's not adoption agencies fault how a child's behavior is formed over their development. I believe that Torrey Hanson should be reprimanded by the law and take full responsibility for carelessly giving up her child.

word #8

1. Wince

2. I winced-I had more recent memory.

The Host by Stephenie Meyer

3. Verb. Recoil involuntarily from pain or fear. To make a pained expression

4. I winced at the site of the dreadful car accident.

Blog 7- Drinking Coffee Elsewhere Analysis

ZZ Packer is an amazing writer. The stories kept me very intrigued all throughout. Packers story telling techniques are key to her success with this book. For example, the usage of her quotes truly let the reader feel the emotion portrayed by the characters in the story. The quotes almost make the reader feel like they are apart of the conversation taking place. The descriptions this author writes are outstanding. As I continued to read on, it was as if a picture was being painted for me in my head.

For example, "She was large but not obese, and crying had turned her face the color of raw chicken. She blew her nose into the waist end of her T-shirt, revealing a pale belly."

I really enjoyed the writers keen sense of youth and humor with her dialect. I believe it gives young readers a chance to relate to some of the stories, and most importantly keeping them interested. Some of the humor is expressed by the use of metaphors. I noticed the use of repetition to portray a scene of frustration.

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